Chapter 434: Lan Jiguang's Appearance

Days later, by a valley, Lady Yaoguang was seated right next to a pile of roast meat as she dug in with gusto. At the same time, from afar, she observed Xiao Nanfeng interrogating a rabbit-headed humanoid that had been hung up.

"A month ago, by the mouth of the abyss, when the Rabbit Yanluo was forced back into the Netherworld Palace by Heaven's Hand, a man by the name of Lan Jiguang gave chase after her. You're aware of this, aren't you? If you tell me about what happened, I'll release you immediately."

"I'm aware, but I won't tell you anything. Dream on!" the rabbit-headed humanoid retorted stubbornly.

"If you tell me, I'll let you go. Why be so stubborn?"

"Our king forbade us from saying anything, and I won't go against her. Once I'm freed, I'll eat you both, haha!"

Xiao Nanfeng frowned, then turned to the cultivators of the alliance beside him. "He isn't being cooperative. I'll leave the subsequent interrogation to you. Don't go easy on him."

"He's killed plenty of our brethren. Of course we'll take revenge for our brothers now that he's landed in our hands. We won't go easy on him, City Lord Xiao. Don't worry. We'll make sure to extract the information you need," one cultivator replied confidently.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Thank you."

He handed the rabbit-headed humanoid to the cultivators before walking over to the other side of the valley, where he continued to cook for Lady Yaoguang.

The two cultivators ate as they awaited the results of the interrogation.

"That rabbit-headed humanoid is really stubborn, isn't he?" Lady Yaoguang frowned.

"They're cursed effigies that can regenerate, so it makes sense that they wouldn't speak right away. Eventually, however, they'll break." Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "No word of your father is surprising enough, but no one has found Blue Lantern, Ye Dafu, and the others either. Something's wrong."

"Blue Lantern's exceptionally strong. I'm sure he's only in hiding," Lady Yaoguang said.

"He is strong, but he has terrible luck. I'm a little worried about him..." Xiao Nanfeng sighed.

Just then, a cultivator flew in from outside the valley.

"City Lord Xiao, we've received word about the Yanluo Lords."

"Oh?"

"The Ox Yanluo eventually made it back to his nexus of power and hid in his Yanluo Court with a group of his subordinates. He's refusing to come out and is isolating himself. The Monkey and Dog Yanluos were unable to break it open, so they killed the remaining ox-headed humanoids in the vicinity before they left. However, on the way back, the Dog Yanluo was ambushed by the Tiger Yanluo."

"What happened?" Xiao Nanfeng asked immediately.

"The Tiger Yanluo ate the Dog Yanluo and claimed his Yanluo Court. The huge commotion attracted the attention and pursuit of the other Yanluo Lords, so the Tiger Yanluo rushed back to his own Yanluo Court with his subordinates and sealed himself in as well."

"The Dog Yanluo was devoured too?" Lady Yaoguang exclaimed.

"Things are progressing faster than I anticipated. What a schemer. The Tiger Yanluo took down two Yanluo Lords in a row—he has the strength of three Yanluo Lords now!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"As does the Ox Yanluo," Lady Yaoguang said in worry.

"Once the Tiger and Ox Yanluos finish digesting their gains, the remaining three Yanluo Lords will be in serious trouble," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed.

"I'm sure the ten Yanluo Lords wouldn't have expected the fragile equilibrium of power that has lasted a hundred thousand years to be broken by a mortal like you," Lady Yaoguang said wryly.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded with a sigh.

"In that case, just what is this blood peach tree you've got? It's not any of the ten Yanluo Lords. Haven't you asked about its identity?" Lady Yaoguang asked.

"It refuses to tell me."

"Then this must surely be part of a scheme. Why don't you let me deal with it?"

"There's no need, not just yet." Xiao Nanfeng was internally alert. The blood peach tree was no easy foe to handle; he didn't want Lady Yaoguang to endanger herself or rouse its ire.

"Well, forget it, then. It's going to turn on you sooner or later." Lady Yaoguang sniffed delicately as she continued to eat.

"Is there more news?" Xiao Nanfeng turned back to the cultivator.

"At the moment, there are three Heaven's Hands slaughtering cursed effigies all around the region, and no Yanluo Lord has dealt with them yet."

"The Yanluo Lords are worried about their own safety; they don't have time to deal with Heaven's Hand. What if they get wounded and the other Yanluo Lords seize the opportunity to take them down?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

Just then, another cultivator flew toward them from afar, excitement on her face. "City Lord Xiao, we've found City Lord Lan Jiguang!"

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.

"Where's my father?!" Lady Yaoguang discarded the roast meat she had been consuming.

"He's waiting for you in the city of Wuliu. He came in contact with a few cultivators from the alliance, who led him there."

"Nanfeng, my father's here! Let's go have a look!" Lady Yaoguang said, her eyes wide in happiness.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

The two cultivators rushed off toward Wuliu, arriving in no time at all. From afar, they saw Lan Jiguang standing by the ruins where the city lord's manor had been. There were plenty of cultivators from the alliance around him, but Lan Jiguang's expression was severe and stern. He didn't seem to want to talk with the cultivators.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned in unease.

"Father!" Lady Yaoguang cried out.

Lan Jiguang slowly turned around. When he saw Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang, his eyes brightened. He smiled in a sinister fashion.

Xiao Nanfeng immediately sensed that something was amiss. He cried out, "Yaoguang, be careful!"

A few giant palms shot toward her from among the gathered crowd. One seized Lady Yaoguang, whereas Xiao Nanfeng dodged them all thanks to his alertness. Even so, he was sent flying by two of the palms.

"A Heaven Immortal's attack...!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

He was sent flying into the city, where he shattered the buildings that lay in his way. Without any hesitation, he melded with the arhat armor in his possession.

Transforming into a golden arhat, he flew toward Lady Yaoguang.

Just then, however, another black palm appeared from the side and smashed into his body, sending him flying again.

"What? How can that be?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

He was wearing arhat armor! How could that blow have been so powerful? As he careened away, he turned back to see who had attacked him—a rabbit-headed humanoid with a crown on her head and robes of black brocade with gold-edged draconic motifs.

"The Rabbit Yanluo!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"Lad, this armor of yours is rather interesting," the Rabbit Yanluo said.

She shot into the air toward Xiao Nanfeng.

"Nanfeng, be careful!" Lady Yaoguang cried out.

She activated her blue moon barrier as her cursebane sword shattered the palm holding her captive.

The next moment, five humans appeared and suppressed her.

"What? Five Heaven Immortals?!" Lady Yaoguang exclaimed.

The cursebane sword swiftly acted to defend her, but even it couldn't fend off five Heaven Immortals at once. She was trapped within moments.

As she watched Xiao Nanfeng being slapped away time and time again by the Rabbit Yanluo, with such force that even the arhat armor was starting to crack, she couldn't help but worry.

"Nanfeng, the blue moon barrier and cursebane sword will protect me. They can't do anything against me. Leave!" she shouted.

Xiao Nanfeng was in bad shape. He knew that, if he didn't make a move soon, neither of them would be able to escape. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Yaoguang, hold on. I'll be back to rescue you in no time!"

After being sent flying by another blow from the Rabbit Yanluo, he took advantage of that momentum to flee.

"Hold it right there!" The Rabbit Yanluo immediately gave chase.

The cultivator and Yanluo Lord vanished from sight over the horizon.

As the Rabbit Yanluo drew closer and closer, Xiao Nanfeng began to worry. Just then, he saw a Heaven's Hand from afar, seizing whatever cursed effigies it could find. As though sensing his savior, he grinned and shot straight at it. The Rabbit Yanluo refused to relent given how close she was to him.

Just then, Heaven's Hand sensed the Rabbit Yanluo's presence and caught her.

"Damn it!"

Heaven's Hand struck at full force, sending her flying from the impact.

She had no choice but to turn and flee.

Xiao Nanfeng took advantage of the opportunity to flee into the forested region down below, hiding from sight.

"The crown prince of Dayin, teaming up with the Rabbit Yanluo against me... I shouldn't have held back that day. I should have taken all of you down regardless of the injuries I would sustain!" Xiao Nanfeng cursed.

In the city of Wuliu, countless cultivators of the alliance began to flee. They glared at the traitors who had tricked them alongside 'Lan Jiguang'.

Lady Arclight had realized what had happened by then.

"You're not my father. What have you done to him?!" Lady Yaoguang demanded, pointing at 'Lan Jiguang'.

Just then, the crown prince of Dayin, Yin Tianci, who had been hiding among the crowd, stepped forward. He looked at Lan Jiguang. "Rabbit Yanluo, has your main body caught Xiao Nanfeng?"

Lan Jiguang took a deep breath. "I was unlucky and encountered a Heaven's Hand. He escaped."

"What?!" Yin Tianci blanched.

"You're to blame for this as well. Why didn't all of you secure Xiao Nanfeng with me? You wasted my efforts," 'Lan Jiguang' accused.

"The Horse Yanluo subdued Xiao Nanfeng in one blow, and I thought you could do the same..." Yin Tianci said.

"Do you imply that I'm weaker than the Horse Yanluo?" the Rabbit Yanluo asked coolly.

"No, no! I simply didn't expect Xiao Nanfeng to be so sly," Yin Tianci replied, salvaging his gaffe.

"You're the Rabbit Yanluo? You split your soul to possess my father?!" Lady Yaoguang roared.

The Rabbit Yanluo narrowed her eyes at Lady Yaoguang. "Lass, if Yin Tianci hadn't specifically come to talk to me, I wouldn't have realized that this prisoner I caught a month ago would be so useful. Although Xiao Nanfeng managed to get away, I'm sure he cares deeply for you if he dared to brave the capital of Wu to find you. With you around, I don't have to worry about losing track of him."

"Why do you care so much about Nanfeng?" Lady Yaoguang raged.

"Why else? He has two Yanluo Courts in his possession," the Rabbit Yanluo replied, smiling.